read my new story : Hollywood Princess
In his second life, Anson has always been trying to challenge different possibilities—
Adventure.
Anson hopes to turn life into an adventure, full of surprises and unexpected twists. No matter what he faces, he embraces the present with open arms, refusing to leave regrets behind, allowing life to be filled with endless possibilities.
Imagine an experience like "National Treasure." In real life, Anson might not have the chance to take on such a challenge, so why not try it as an actor? That would be perfect.
Maybe the only obstacle is his age.
"National Treasure" is a typical Hollywood genre film, with a male lead usually between thirty-five and forty-nine, targeting the mainstream consumer market of that age group.
So, the lead actor in the previous life was Nicolas Cage.
But now, replacing him with a twenty-year-old Anson?
If not careful, it could turn into a teenage version of "Spy Kids."
However, this is not something Anson needs to worry about. The character's age in the movie doesn't affect the narrative; whether twenty or forty, it's the same.
Negotiations can be handled by the agent and producers.
Thus,
Anson temporarily places the script in a separate spot from "The Day After Tomorrow."
Edgar noticed this and, feeling a bit relieved, regained his professional demeanor. "This project is worth considering. Disney is very enthusiastic about it, even more so than producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The script came directly from Disney."
"I looked into it. It seems that the suggestion came from Disney executives, having you and Annie as the leads. They want to explore another possibility besides 'The Princess Diaries.' It appears they are very satisfied with the performance of 'The Princess Diaries.'"
Executives?
Anson was slightly puzzled. If he remembered correctly, the Disney executives weren't pleased with his appearance at the "Princess Diaries" premiere.
"If the collaboration is successful, I think they'd be willing to build the entire production around you. This is a positive sign."
Anson neither agreed nor disagreed. "That would depend on the filming schedule and release date of 'The Princess Diaries 2.' If our films with Annie are released consecutively, the media might label us as an on-screen couple, but we both would struggle to shed the teen tag."
In other words, the schedule needs to be considered.
Edgar thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, I understand."
Next, Anson picked up the next script, but he only glanced at the first page before looking up at Edgar, without even reading it seriously.
A smile appeared on Edgar's face. "This is a rare opportunity."
Anson shook his head slightly. "I don't think so."
"Twelve Monkeys" was the famous project in Anson's hands.
In 2001, the star-studded crime film "Ocean's Eleven" became a sensation. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts formed an all-star lineup. The eleven characters, known as the eleven thieves, pulled off an impossible heist, garnering rave reviews and attention.
Of course, there was also the box office.
Everyone thought this star-studded movie was a one-time project, but Warner Bros., with its deep pockets, unexpectedly gathered the original cast, adding another superstar to create "Ocean's Twelve."
Without reading the script, it's clear they invited Anson to be the twelfth thief.
This was why Edgar was excited. Anson would be able to join a group of superstars, and regardless of the pay, his industry status would skyrocket.
But at the same time, it was also why Anson was calm.
Judging by the past, "Ocean's Twelve" did indeed expand its star lineup. The addition of Vincent Cassel and Catherine Zeta-Jones made the film shine even brighter.
However, they played competitors, pitting them against the eleven thieves. None of them were the twelfth thief. The true twelfth thief was Julia Roberts' character from the first film.
Of course, Anson didn't mind playing the villain. Always playing the hero would be boring. A charming villain can bring much more impact; he just thought Edgar's expectations might have been misguided.
Currently, the script Anson held didn't contain the actual script but a project plan.
In other words, Edgar believed they were inviting Anson to play the twelfth thief, skyrocketing his status, allowing him to be on par with the stars, and becoming the focal point of the movie. But that's not the case.
Anson was just a gimmick, a smokescreen, a decoy.
When the time comes, this kind of psychological gap would be even harder to accept.
But how should Anson tell Edgar?
Looking up to meet Edgar's gaze, Anson organized his thoughts.
"Did Jeff Robinov give you this project?"
From their previous collaboration on "The Butterfly Effect," Anson and Jeff got along well. It was clear Jeff genuinely loved movies and appreciated Anson, looking forward to working together.
Anson believed Jeff sincerely hoped Anson could become the twelfth thief, eagerly anticipating their first collaboration.
But there was a problem.
Someone like Jeff, a high-level executive, usually focuses on the big picture but doesn't have the time or energy to follow every detail. Specific projects are left to the respective producers, and the minutiae are not within their purview. Hence, there's an information gap here—
Between executives and producers.
Just like the saying "the county magistrate is not as good as the current manager," or in other words, "policies from above, countermeasures from below."
Edgar sensed something unusual. "I thought you and Jeff were friends?"
Anson chuckled softly. "At least we haven't had dinner or drinks privately."
In a society driven by interests, the definition of a friend isn't that simple.
"Of course, we're not enemies, and I'm not doubting Jeff's intentions. I believe when Jeff pushed for 'Ocean's Twelve,' he did think of me."
"But, Captain, you should know who the real core of this project is."
George Clooney.
From director Steven Soderbergh to co-star Brad Pitt, the entire crew was assembled by George Clooney.
Initially, it was just an idea to remake the 1960s film of the same name, intended as a low-budget project because the main characters were a bunch of petty criminals, the "Rat Pack."
It wasn't until they met George Clooney that everything changed.
Edgar was a smart man and immediately made the connection.
Originally, the film wasn't going to have a sequel because George Clooney wasn't interested in making one.
During the movie's Rome premiere press conference, a reporter's question inspired director Steven Soderbergh. He loved the Italian atmosphere and got some ideas, then persuaded George Clooney.
When George agreed, they got a sequel.
And George has solid friendships with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. Clearly, Anson's relationship with these two is a bit awkward.
Edgar was taken aback. "Are you saying George might not want you to join?"
Anson shrugged lightly. "I won't overestimate myself; maybe they didn't even consider me. But what I mean is that Hollywood has no shortage of superstars. It's not like I'm irreplaceable. Jeff's idea is good, but not unique. He and George might not share the same thoughts."